Mold filling apparatus



May 26, 1942. F. A. MCCANN 2,284,332

MOLD FILLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16. 1941 a Sheets-Sheet 1 ffiA/vKu/v A M CA/v/v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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May 26, 1942. F. A. McCANN MOLD FILLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1941 May 26, 1942. A. MCCANN 2,284,332

MOLD FILLING APPARATUS A TTORNE Y.

INVENTOR.

Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oF cs.

MOLD FILLING APPARATUS Franklin A. McCann, Pasadena, Calif, as signor to Pacific Clay Products Company, Los Angeles, Oalifi, a corporation of California 7 l Application August 16, 1941, Serial No. 407,190

9 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic filling of molds for forming cast' ceramic ware.

In the forming of ceramic pieces by the casting process, a liquid suspension of the ceramic ingredients, commonly termed slip, is poured into the cavity of a mold formed of 'an'absorbent material such as plaster-of-Paris. After absorption of a part of the water and the forming of a lining of the desired thickness in the cavity, the excess liquid is poured out, and the formed piece and the mold are dried, followed by removal of the piece from the separable mold, which may then be refilled, and the cycle repeated. This series of operations is well adapted for a continuous system involving a conveyor in a closedv circuit. On'econvenient form is an overhead rail conveyor with suspended mold-carrying cars and my invention will be described as applied to this particular form, althoughit may be adapted to other forms of conveyors.

Since in actual practice the ,pieces'made are of varying sizes and of assorted volumes, the molds also vary in size, but by proper design of molds, or in the manner of placing them on the.

cars, the mold openings maybe arranged to move under a filling spout, which is moved forward with the mold until the cavity is filled, and is then transferred back to the opening of the next mold, and so on continuously.

One object of my invention is to provide automatic filling means for ceramic molds movingv continuously on conveyor cars. Another object is to provide a filling device which is automatical- 1y lowered into the neck of a mold as the mold is conveyed into the filling position. Still another object is to provide means for automatically lowering a nozzle into a mold to be filled. Another object is to provide means for raising the nozzle when the mold is filled. Another object is to provide means for opening and closing the nozzle coordinated with the in and out positions of the nozzle in relation to the opening of the mold. Another object is to provide a filling device for molds of differing capacity moving at a uniform rate past the filling station.

'I 'hese and other objects are attained by my invention which will be understood by reference filling de-v Fig. 4 is a side view of the filling nozzle/and associated devices;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view takenon line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 'l'l of Fig. 4; I

Fig.8 is an end elevation view of a conveyor car and molds;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the electrical circuit of my automatic filling device.

Referring to the drawings, an overhead conveyor track II is arranged to carry mold supporting cars l2 past a filling'station, a drive chain I4 being used for continuous movement of the cars. The cars l2 carry o'neor more molds arranged in a row, the centers of the openings l6 of the molds l 5 being arranged at a fixed distance from a back rail [1, and the tops of the molds being at substantially the same elevation above the floor. The molds are held on the car racks I8 by suitable'clamping members which are arranged t'oavoid projection-s above the tops of the molds. Each car is provided with aback rail H, which is disposed parallel to the line of travel of the cars, and is attached to end horizontal members 20 which in turn are fastened to the suspension members I9 at the ends of the cars. Upon the back rail l1 are mounted trips 2|, one for each mold which is to be filled with slip. The trip 2| consists of a bifurcated member 22 adapted to straddle the back rail IT, to which it may be adjustably attached by the handscrew 23, and a trip arm 24 pivoted on the horizontal pin 25 to the back of the bifurcated member 22, so that, when its upper end is not engaged by the catch 26, the trip arm 24 may be tilted. The trip arm 24 is so mounted that its normal position is vertical, this being arranged by pivoting above the center of gravity. The trip arm 24 is adapted to cooperate with the catch 26 in holding a filling head 3| over a mold opening during the filling of that mold with the slip mixture, and also to tilt over to permit the head toslide along the top edge of the back rail I! when the catch 26 isreleased coincident with the completion of the filling of that particular mold. A

A filling head 3| is connected by a horizontally disposed pipe 32 and a hose 33 to a supply system under pressure for the ceramic slip used for filling the molds. A supporting post 34 is fastened rigidly in the floor adjacent the line of movement of the back rails ll of the cars on the conveyor, and a slip collar 35 is attached to the post so that the ipe 32 slips freely through it. Tension-com the pression springs 36 attached to the pipe 32 and to the post 34 serve to pull the head 3| back toward the post when the trip arm 24 is released, and also as shock absorber to the head by compression of the springs, so that the next succeeding trip arm may engage thehead and carry it forward while filling the next succeeding mold. y

The filling head 3| is connected to the horizontal pipe 32' bya swivel union 38. The filling head consists of a tubular body portion 31 having a downturned nozzle 39 which conducts the liquid slip to the molds. A quick acting valve 40, actuated by a solenoid 4| is interposed between the swivel union 38 and the body portion of the filling head, and controls the flow -of.slip fromthepipe operates in the electrical circuit with magnet 52; and relay His in the circuit with the solenoid 62. Direct current distribution terminals 80+ and 80 are provided on a small panel 12 attached to the body 31. r

The electric circuits are shown in the diagram 7 Fig. 9. When the electrodes 46 and 41 are lowered into themouth I6 of a mold, contact points 58 and 59 of the switch55' are electrically connected, thereby energizing solenoid M which opens valve 40, allowing the slip to flow into the mold. When the mold is full, the slip closes the circuit between the electrodes 46 and 41, which 32 into the molds through the'nozzle 39. A rod- 42 adaptedto be moved vertically in bearings. 43 attached to or made integraliwith the nozzle 39;. by the solenoid 45, which is supported. on the filling head body portion 31. Attached to the lower. end. of this rod 42. are, two bare electrodes r 46 and 41 positioned so that when the rodi42qis.

at its lowest position, ifixedzby the;stop collar 4'4, the:electrodes:4 6 and i4! dip-insidethemold openingl6, and make electrical connection through theslip liquid when the: mold is,full. In the upper position of the rod 42, the contacts 46 and 41" are. out of themoldxand the stop, collar 44'' is engaged by a catch mechanism consisting of a" catch arm 56; sliding. in thesupport member 5| attached to the fillingihead body, thearmiflibeingactuated by an electro:-magnet 52 by-means of an armaturei53'pivotedto the supporttmem 7 delayed action relay -1 Theicollanflalso enbe'r,..the catch ,arm being in: operative :position .at' 7 all .itimes when the 1 magnet; 52 'is; notxenergized. whenlthetcontact' electrodes 46fand'4'l are lifted out offthe mold opening .by: action of: the solenoid. 45; they. are-held; in the: raised: position by the catclrf5flfuntilf the magnet 52 isifenergised and releases the' catch;

A 4 -point mercury. contact switch 55 ispivoted at 5;4 :to the fillingheadtbody; 31', and. adapted to be tiltedby apm-5em1tham4z acting in aslot 5'l of the switch mounting; An electrica1 circuit is established between switch contact points I 58 and 59 only (by mercury-in the switch) when the switch: 55: arefconnected' and the valve" 40 is 4'? rod 42 is in the lower-"position; and made betweengswitch points- 60 and-6l only when the rod"- 42- is in the uppenposition. A nozzle extension sleeve -'l5'-attachd to the rod 42 moves in and" out of I the mold opening with the electrodes 46- and 4T. Thissleeveextends 'below thelevel ofthe electrodes and prevents splashing, and falseelec-- tr-ical connection between the electrodes before themold isactually-filled. g

The releasing catch 26-; which coacts with the trip arm 2'4 toholdthe fillinghead 3lover a mold-opening, is vertically movably by the solenoid 62 mounted on the; body 3-1; Movable with and adapted to. support-and tilt themercury;

switch" filifastenedat'itsyendy the switch having two-contact points- 66- and'69. When the catch 26is-in released position. the, electrical circuit is completed between the; points 68 and 69'1by the. mercury, and this circuit is broken; when the CatchZB-is in-the down'position,' where it holds the trip 'arm- 24; Theengagingends of the trip arm-24 and thelcatch 26 are-beveled so that the catch=will slip.overl theend of tlie arm and thendron. down; behind: it toxprovide; the engagement ofithatwoimembers;

- Two. delayed"actionrelays" Ill and-. flare ialso mounted ion-the .fi'lling head body 'Relay ill; 72

circuit includes. the solenoid 45. Solenoid 45 whens-energized liftsthe electrodes 46 and 41 out of: the-slip; and simultaneously breaks the circuit between contactpoints 58 and 59, which thereby tie-energizes the'solenoid 4| and closes the valve to. cut oil flow of slip. .The upward movement of the rod '42' holding the electrodes 46 and 4'! also-closes the-circuit :between contact :points 6 0 and 6 l, thiszcircuitf including the: solenoid; 62' and i 42'Qand the'electrodes'drop down into the mouth of thenextmdld. Duringthe interval of time permitted by the delay action'relay ill; the springs 36 .pull the head 3 to the merit adjacent trip 2 la on the back rail ll oftheconveyor cars, thus positioning the electrodes "an d- 41 "and nozzle extension. 15i'over the "mouth of the next mold prior to .loweringthem} ;When the electrodes are inthe lowered-'ipositibn, thecontacts-58 and 59 of openedJasabove-descr ed, and the cycle of opera'tionsis completed and repeated.

In the arrangement shown, where the molds are carried on suspendedcars, ibis-necessary to provide means to avoid'striking 'the head by the carfsuspending members l9.- One arrangement is shown in Figs. 2' and 3, consisting of'aguard strip 8 I-Iattached tothe adjoining suspending'members I),- and extending between ad-,

jacentcars at the elevation-of the filling head 3|.

. A spring 82normally holds the filling head at right angles tothe pipe 32 and across' the cars, but the swivelunion 38 permits thehead 3| to turn 'and foll'ow the guardjstrip' 81 in carrying the head from one cartothe next. This is iiiuotratedin Figs. 2 and 3 in broken outlines. H

,-.The advantages of automatically' filling the molds will be apparent. The 'molds. are always filled to'an exact level, and at thegsameirate, so that the formingof the ceramic. body is; under uniform conditions; Since the automatic filling is most advantageous, when used with a continuous process of forming; itihas been describedas.

applied tliereto; The time interval from. filling of the mold-to emptying it is uniform, resulting in uniformthickness'of molded pieces: There is a marked saving in labor costs, and theloss of slip'is-negligible as there is no spillage or overflowing ofmolds.- i

I claim: 1. A container 'filling headbran-electrically conductive liquid comprising a nozzle, a conduit for liquid leadingto said' nozzle, a valve in the conduit, electrically actuated means for opening and closing said valve, an extension to said nozzle adapted to move in and out of the container, a pair ofv electrodes attached to said extension,

means for lowering said pairof electrodes and a said extension into the container prior to open-- to at least partly cover the electrodes, and means.

for raising said pair of electrodes from the container following the completion of said electrical circuit, said electrically-actuated means opening,

said valve only when the electrodes are in the container and also not in contact with the conductive liquid.

2. A container filling head for an electrically conductive liquid comprising a nozzle, a conduit for liquid leading to saidnozzle, a valve in the conduit, solenoid means for opening and closing said valve, an extension to said nozzleadapted to move in and out of the container, a pair of electrodes attached to said extension, solenoid means for raising said pair of electrodes and said extension from the container followingcompletion of the filling of the container, catch means.

.valve only when the electrodes are inthe container and not in contact with the conductive liquid. 7

3. A container filling head for an electrically conductive liquid comprising a filling nozzle, a vertically movable extension on said nozzle, a pair of electrodes insertable in the opening of the container attached to said extension, electrical control means for starting and stopping the flow of liquid from said nozzle, and an electric circuit including said electrodes and said control means, said circuit being completed by the electrically conductive liquid when its level rises sufficiently to at least partly cover said electrodes, whereby the liquid flow from the nozzle is stopped.

4. Mold filling means comprising in combination, a continuously moving longitudinal conveyor; a series of molds of varied capacities carried on said conveyor through a filling zone; trip means on said conveyor corresponding to each mold to be filled adapted to engage a filling head and hold it over a mold opening; a filling head including conduit means for putting liquid into said mold opening only when the filling head is over the desired mold, and closing means to automatically shut oil? the liquid in said conduit means when said mold is sufliciently filled; electrical contact means coacting with the liquid when it reaches the desired in each mold adapted to actuate said valve closing means; release means acting simultaneously with said closing means to disengage said trip means; and means to longitudinally retract said filling head upon release, to a position for engagement with the next succeeding trip means, said filling head being adapt ed to move with the conveyor during the filling of each mold and to be retracted to a position over the next succeeding mold on the conveyor following the completion of the filling of the previous mold.

5. Mold filling means comprising in combination, a continuously moving conveyor, a series of molds of varied capacitiescarried on said conveyorthrough a filling zone; trip means on said conveyor corresponding to each mold to be filled adapted to engage a filling head and hold it over a mold opening during filling; a filling head including -conduit means for putting liquid into said moldopening; electrode means on said filling head adapted to conductively complete an electrical circuit including the liquid in the mold to actuate conduit-closing means when the mold is sufiiciently filled; means to lower said electrodes into a mold opening when said conduit means is at first engaged by the trip means corresponding to the mold to be filled; closingmeans to automatically shut off the liquid when said mold is sufiiciently filled; means to raise said electrode meansout of the mold when said conduit-closing means isactuated; release means acting simultaneously with said closing means to disengage the particular trip means corre-v spending to the mold'whose filling has just been completed; and means to retract said filling head to'ja position for engagement with the next succeeding trip means corresponding to the next mold to be filled.

6. Mold filling means comprising in combination, a filling head comprising a nozzle, a conduit for liquid leading to said nozzle, a valve in the conduit, electrically actuated means for opening and closing said valve, a pair of electrodes attached to'said nozzle, means for lowering said pair of electrodes into the container prior to opening said valve, and means for raising said pair of electrodes from the container following the completion of an electrical circuit including said electrodes, said circuit being completed by the electrically conductive liquid when its level in the container rises sufficiently to at least partly cover said electrodes, said electrically actuated means for opening said valve being operative only when the electrodes are in the container and are. also not in contact with the conductive liquid; a continuously moving conveyor, a series of molds of varied capacities carried on said conveyor through a filling zone, trip means on said conveyor corresponding to each mold to be filled adapted to engage a filling head and hold it over a mold opening, release means acting simultaneously with the'shut-ofi of liquid through the filling head adapted to disengage said trip means, and means to retract said filling head to a position for engagement with the next succeeding trip means.

'7. Mold filling means comprising in combination, a filling head comprising a nozzle, a

conduit for liquid leading to said nozzle, a valve in the conduit, electrically actuated means for opening and closing said valve, a pair of-electrodes attached to said nozzle, means for lowering said pair of electrodes into the container prior to opening said valve, an electric circuit including said electrodes, and raising means for said electrodes, said circuit being completed by the electrically conductive liquid when its level rises sufiiciently to at least partly cover the electrodes, means for raising said pair of electrodes from the container following the completion of said electrical circuit, and an extension to said nozzle adapted to movelin-iand outof the container with said electrodes; said electricallyactuatedmeans opening said valve only when the electrodes arein-the containerandalsofin contact with the conductive liquid; a-continu-- ously moving conveyor, a series of molds of varied capacities: carried on; saidconveyor through a filling zone, trip means on said' conveyor corresponding toeach mold: to be, filled adapted-to-engage a filling head andholdit over a mold; opening, release means acting simultane ously with. the: shut-offer 'liquid throughthe filling head adapted to disengage said trip means, and means to retract said filling head to'a. position A for engagement with the nextv succeeding: trip means;

8.-Mold filling means comprising. in combination; a filling headcom'prising-anozzle, a conduit for liquid leading to said'nozzle avalve" in-the conduit, solenoid meansifor opening 'andthe electrodes are in the container and not contact with the-conductive liquid; a continuously moving conveyor; a series of molds of varied capacities carriedron saidc'onveyor through a filling; zone; trip .means .on said: conveyor correspondingto; each moldto be filled adapted to engage a filling head. and hold it over a mold opening; release means acting simultaneously with the shut-01f of liquid through the-fillinghead adapted to disengage said-trip means, and 'meansto-retract said filling-headto a position for engagement with the nextsucceeding trip means.

9, In combination, a continuously moving conveyor; a seriesof molds ofvaried capacities carried on saidconveyor through a filling zone;

trip means on. said conveyor corresponding tot each mold to be filledadaptedlto engagea filling head and holdit over a mold opening; a filling headincludingj conduit means for putting liquid into saidlmold opening; a pairof electrodes on said filling head adaptedto'conductivelyv complete an electric circuit including theliquid in the filledmold and adapted; to actuate conduitclosing means. when the mold is sufficiently filled; catch..means for holding said 'electrodesin-elevated positionout. of the mold; magnetic release. means for said. catch adapted to. permit the electrodestord'rop into amoldopening-when' said filling head. is atrfii'st' engaged by the trip means corresponding to the moldrtot be filled; closing fmeans includingsa solenoidto shut off theliquid in said conduit ..means.when said mold is. sufficientlyffilled, means to raisersaid elec trodes outofa moldppeningnwhen said. conduitclosing ;means-is actuated; release means adapted: to disengage said-trip. means acting simultaneously with said-closing means; and means to retract said. conduitmeans to a position for engagementlwith the nextsucceeding trip'means.

FRANKLIN A. McCANN. 

